Reaction To Dave D’Alessandro’s Interview @ HoopsAddict.com
by Sebastian Pruiti
Jul 15, 2009 2009 Offseason, Analysis, Dave D'Alessandro, Links, Nets In The Media
Hoopsaddict.com is a great basketball blog, and it is a site that I make sure I read everyday. So when I got an e-mail from the site telling me about an interview that they did with Dave D’Alessandro (Who was kind enough to answer a few questions for me), I hurried over to read it. Dave talks Nets, NBA, what it is like to be a beat writer, and the state of newspapers so you definitely want to check it out. I am pulling a few quotes from the interview that I wanted to comment on:
HA: What’s your thoughts on the direction the Nets are taking? Everyone heard the whispers of Carter being moved, and now he is finally no longer with the team. Did you think it was a smart trade for the team? Thoughts on the selection of Terrence Williams?
DD: It may not be a smart trade for the Nets, but it probably was the only move they had. It was obvious back in December that Vince’s departure was inevitable, and you had to get expiring contracts and a promising young talent in the deal. So with the aims being pretty narrow, mission accomplished. I don’t know much about Terrence’s game yet, but I like the kid personally, and I hope fans give him a chance to grow into his job. But I can already hear the moans when he goes 6-for-29 his first three games.
I know I am in the minority with this one, but I think that the Vince Carter trade was a smart one for the Nets and not just a salary dump. Sure getting rid of Vince’s salary was an effect of the deal, but we got huge value with this deal, more than we would get in any trade we make next season before the trade deadline. Now a lot of Nets fans are a little worried about Courtney Lee’s reactions to being traded, but can we blame him really? He went from going to the finals to being on a team that will challenge for the number 1 pick. That had to hit him hard, especially when he was such a big factor in the team’s playoff run. Another critisim of the trade that I have been hearing is that if we really wanted Lee, why didn’t we just draft him? Well, with Vince Carter in the mix, we didn’t need a player like Lee. The trade of Carter opens the floor up for Lee’s style of play. I know it sucks giving up Ryan Anderson, but I think it was worth it.
Also, I know that I for one won’t be moaning or groaning if Terrence starts the year going 6-29. Why? Well, he is young and this team isn’t going anywhere. We just need him to develop and gain experience, he shooting will come around, and while it does, Terrence Williams will be able to contribute in other ways.
HA: On the topic of the Cavs, what’s your stance on 2010? Do the Nets have a shot at one of the big three (Wade, LeBron and Bosh)?
DD: Not likely. Guys at that level want to win now and win often, and all things being equal ($$$$), they’ll go where they can win.
Despite Dave’s opinions, I think the Nets have a big-time shot at one of the big three (if not two – or one of these guys and a guy like Dirk). For one, we have the money…tons of money. Two, I can’t think of a team that has a better younger core that will be in position to get one of these guys. The Knicks? No. The Grizz? No. The Thunder? Maybe. But I don’t think (Key word here is think) they have the cap space. Those are the young teams positioning themselves for one of the big three off of the top of my head.
Now with all this being said, I don’t want everyone to think I am bashing Dave. He is the best Nets’ beat writer around, and I usually find myself agreeing with what he says. We just have two differing opinions in this case, and I feel like I should state mine. What do you guys think? Leave your opinions in the comments!
July 15th, 2009 at 9:53 AM
Well I can understand that you want to see the glass half full with the trade VC and Ryan Anderson….
Then we have to accept that we traded Ryan Anderson for Courtney and the rest of the trade is then pure salary dump with Rafter Alston and Battie….
Now if we traded VC only for Lee, Battie and Alston, I would make standing ovation to Thorn until the ends of my days….
But by trying to sell a full salary dump as a success story makes me feel sick. I think lots of other Nets fans feels cheated also….
If we say our FO was really good in this trade this mean they messed up really big in last draft by drafting Ryan in front of Lee. If Lee has such big potential to be star how did they missed it…
End of story is, I don’t trust this franchise anymore, next year we would be a team with 25 mil$ caps space and top 5 pick and that is it.
Look to what Orlando is doing, you are seeing in their every move that they are committed to win. Tell me one move that this Franchise had done last 5 years that shows us that are committed to win. Their only commitment is to stay under the tax….
Not even even 31 years old Marion is not coming to Jersey for more money, why should ever Bosh, Wade and LeBron come.
July 16th, 2009 at 1:47 AM
Thanks for the comment and reading my blog. This whole “If we really liked Lee why didn’t we draft him last year?” thing is really starting to bother me. When we drafted Ryan Anderson, we needed a complementary shooter. We didn’t need a create-your-own shot type of player in Lee. With Vince Carter gone, we don’t really need a shooting 4, we need a guy who can create his own shot and take it to the lane. Courtney Lee is that. In my opinion it is easy to find a spot up shooter anywhere, guys with superstar potential (and I truly believe C. Lee has superstar potential) are much harder to find. I would have liked to be able to keep Ryan Anderson in the trade, but it just wasn’t possible, Orlando wouldn’t do it.
July 16th, 2009 at 3:24 AM
As I said in the previous post, I have no problem with VC is gone. It should happen one day, my only problem is it was a pure salary dump and FO is trying to sell this as a success story….
In the way you are explaining, FO is no idea what is he doing or saying…
What is Nets draft mantra, BPA isn’t it. Now FO and you are saying, Lee was the BPA but we drafted for a need (or my explanations FO doesn’t have a clue)….
It was clear last year that we are not going to win a championship last year, so why to draft for a need if there is sure superstar talent like Lee is there….
These are not so important details, the important issue is FO is trying to twist the story and actually lie to fans..
Everybody knows it, we trade it Ryan Anderson against Lee and VC is gone against a salary dump for Alston, Battie and they messed up last years draft. FO should say this get over with….
This broken record of we got a great talent with Lee for VC but we should give Anderson away should disappear….
And don’t get me wrong, I like your blog, I am agree in most of your opinions (like it is inevitable that VC should go and actually I am happy that he landed in Orlando after his services last year….)
But I am sorry, I am sick and tired from FOs twisting the stories….
July 16th, 2009 at 8:34 AM
Hey man, I appreciate the comment. I just think a lot of Nets fans are undervaluing the potential and skill Courtney Lee has. It is my opinion he is going to be a terrific player. Oh and I think BPA in the draft is dumb. Not sure if it is right or not, but that is just my personal opinion.
July 16th, 2009 at 11:56 AM
Hey Sebastian,
Thanks for checking out my interview. Love the blog.
Cheers,
Mike @ HA.com
July 16th, 2009 at 6:08 PM
No problem man, keep doing the great work! Thanks for the compliment also…